haylee_reads 's review for:

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson

2.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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So this ended up being a really disappointing read for me. I thought the overall idea was so interesting - paintings holding curses and powers. However, the rest of the book fell really flat for me. The characterization was half baked, the villains felt like caricatures, and a lot of the character development/world building felt like it happened off page. I liked the discussion on art, racism, colonialism, and the hunger for power…but again it felt a little half baked. The writing was also super stilted and was telling more than showing. I also want to point out that this reads way more like a fantasy than a horror. I was expecting more horror, so just keep that in mind.

Thank you so much to Harper Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.